Page 2 of Silk Sheets

“We’re going Saturday,” Solace nodded as she stood up and I lazily reached for my pen across my desk.

“I don’t know…” I trailed off, pretending to be uninterested as I twirled my black pen between my fingers.

“Excuse me?” she scoffed, and I fought back a smile.

A strained cry filtered through the air, making my spine straighten. “Oh my God!”

My head snapped to Daisy—one of my closest friends—as a panicked expression lingered on her face. She pointed a trembling finger toward the front of our class and everyone followed her gaze.

Professor Tyler clutched his chest, his face turning pale. My eyes widened as he gasped for air, leaning against his desk.What the…

A few guys rushed down to him, holding him up and a few students grabbed their cell phones. I watched Camille and two other female students surround our Professor in a panic.

The guys lowered him to the ground and Camille tied back her hair. She checked his pulse, looking at her wrist watch and one of the students entered with another Professor.

“Give him some space!” the Professor demanded and Solace grabbed my arm in shock.

“D…” she whispered, tears filling her eyes and I wrapped my arms around her as she stared down at our Professor.

“His pulse is— is too slow,” Camille stammered.

“What happened?” he questioned, looking around at all of us.

Still being in shock, neither of us were able to speak.

“We don’t know,” Darnell answered, and Solace rested her face in the crease of my neck. I wrapped my arms around her, feeling the tremble in her body.

Soon, the paramedics rushed in, and we watched them carry Professor Tyler’s unconscious body out on a stretcher.

“I suggest you all head home for the day,” the Professor announced, looking around the room, and I could still feel Solace clutching to me. “I’ll inform the rest of the school, and we’ll move forward from there.”

Frantically, the students—including Solace and I—rushed out the door.

It wasn’t the first time that something triggered Solace’s panic attacks on campus, so when she curled up on thebathroom floor I was right there beside her. Holding her.Consolingher.

When her breathing steadied and her tears dried up, we found Asher who had already heard the news and was eager to drive us back home.

I sat in the backseat with Solace, and he stole a few worried glances at her through the rearview mirror, making my heart sink.

We stopped to grab a bite to eat and I knew she felt much better the minute she suggested drunk studying.And of course, we couldn’t say no to her.

* * *

“How was school?” mom asked as I entered my parents bedroom. “And you’re home so late, I was worried sick!” she reprimanded, dropping her cell phone on her nightstand.

Her frustrated eyes landed on me and I sighed, dragging my legs toward my parents bed.

Both of them sat up against the headboard, except my dad was reading the newspaper.

He simply glanced at me over the top of his glasses with his neutral expression in place. Not a slither of emotion behind those eyes.

Mom’s frustration morphed into concern, then into pity. “Rough day?” she asked, and I nodded, climbing onto their bed.

I slid in between my parents, staring up at the ceiling with my hands on my chest. “What happened?” she ran her hand down my head, her voice laced with concern.

“My professor had a heart attack and we’re afraid he might die.”

“That’s awful,” she cooed, her brows pinching together.